Shoe-display rack for trunks.



T. G. CUWMNGS.

SHOE DISPLAY RACK FOR TRUNKSx APPLICATION FILED nEc.7,19:4. LQSL'YW.,Patented July 3,1m @SHEETS-SHEET l.

#We/Ww l/Z//hesses T. G. CUNIIVIINGS.

SHOE DISPLAY RACK FOR TRUNKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1914. I 231 9'? l 3., Patented July 3, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@A @DM T. G. CUMMINGS.

SHOE msPLAY BACK FOR TRUNKS.

Patented July 3,1917.

3 SHEETS SHEET e S S w M UNITED FAIF@ kFATFIWI" FFIFE.

THOMAS Gr. CUMMIN GS, OF

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 GRAND RAPIDS TRUNK COMPANY, 0F GRANDRAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SHOE-DISPLAY RACK FOR TRUNKS.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. CUMMINGS,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, inthe county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Shoe-Display Racks for Trunks; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oftheinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relatesV to shoe display racks, used in trunks, and it isthe object and purpose of the invention to provide a collapsible rackwhich may be made to occupy comparatively little space whereby it may beinclosed in an ordinary trunk but which may be extended to operativeposition when it is desired to examine the articles carried by the rack.It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedmeans for eifecting the extension of the rack to operative position andfor holding it in said position when extended. And this inventioncomprises structure designed to accomplish these ends, together withother objects and purposes not specifically enumerated, as willappear onunderstanding being had of the embodiment of the invention disclosed inthe drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective kview of the rack in its extended operativeposition.A

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the rack in its collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the rack disclosing the'means'by which the extension of the rack is manually effected. 1

Fig. 5 isa side view of one of the upright standards forming a part ofthe rack.

Fig. 6 is the side and partial sectional view of the individual shoeholding ele` ments; and, Y

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a trunk, the rack being inclosedtherein.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings. q

A` The trunk consists of a base member 1 and an upper member 2'which isadaptedV to be placed on and removably secured to the base Il by' meansofthe usual trunk clasps 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1917. 7, 1914.. serial No. 875,852.

as shown in Fig. 7. The rack for holding shoes is contained within saidtrunk and may be readily transported with the trunk. In the structure ofthe rack, there are providedl two upright standards 4 fastened securelyat each end of the base 1 of the trunk and each having pivotallyconnected or hinged thereto at its upper end an extension 5, saidextensionand portions of the upper sections of the post 4 being providedwith a rack G as indicated in Fig. 5, each extension '5 at its upper'end being further provided with'a ring 7 permanently secured'thcreto.Between the posts 4 and extensions 5 thereof, a number of shelves 8 arelocated, all except the uppermost of said shelves having at each endplates 9 with upper and lower lips turned inwardly and piercedto receivethe posts 4 and extensions 5 to permit the slidable movement of theshelves relative to the posts.

The construction except with reference to the uppermost shelf 8 and itsattached mechanism is the same in each of the goods holding members, ofwhich, shelves S form a part, and a description of one will be sufficient for all of them. Each plate 9 adjacent its connections with theshelves 8 has pivotally connected thereto arms 10 which extend inopposite directions and in the lowermost of said goods holding` members,these arms at their ends are connected to the base 1.. Each of theplates 9 near its upper end has also pivotally attached theretooppositely extending arms 11. The arms 10 excepting the lowermost ofsaid arms as previously described, are connected with the arms 11immediately belowby links 12. Each pair of arms 10 extending to one sideof the posts 4 is oin'ed together by a cross member 13 of channel ironformation, said cross bar 13 being located near the outer ends of arms10.

Above each shelf 8 two bars 14 are located lying parallel with the shelfand supported above the shelf bv links 15 pivotally connected both tosaid bars and to the shelf. Bars'14 arespaced a distance apart one lyingsubstantially above each edge of the shelf. Each bar 14 has a link 16connected thereto which extends upwardly and has pivotal connection atthe underside of the shelf 8 next above. The connections of the link 15tobars 14 is substantially midway between the ends of the bains.;y

Each goods holding member also includes a number of holders 17 lyingbetween and attached to bars 13 and 14, each holder at its inner endhaving a vertical section 1S pivotally attached tothe bar 14. Saidholders on the under sides thereof are provided with pintle members 19and 20, at the front and back respectively, which pass into openings inbars 13 vand the shelves S respectively.

It will be ap'parent that with the construction as thus outlined thegoods holding members', each consisting of a shelf S and pair ofoppositely extending 'bars 10 and 11, connected together in the mannerdescribed, are slidably supported by and between the posts 4 andextensions 5 thereof and are adapted to rest one on the other when saidgoods holding members are moved to their lowest position. It will alsobe clear that on elevating the uppermost of said members the connectionsbetween said member and the members below1 serve to elevate the membersspacing them apart along the length of the supporting standards; andthat when said goods holding members are elevated and spaced apart thelinks 16 serve to draw the bars 14 to their highest limit above theshelves 8 and rotate the holding members 17 into position such that anarticle carried by each member is supported upright and in best displayposition. Also as the goods holding members are collapsed the links 16actuate the bars 14 lengthwise turning them ontheir links 15 and alsoturning the holder 17 about pivots 19 and 20 whereby the articles areautomatically turned on their sides as the rack is collapsed so as tooccupy is cut away the least possible space.

The uppermost goods holding member is similar in all respects to thosebelow it except that the shelf 8 thereof carries at each end a casing orbox 21 in place of the plate 9. Said casing is covered by a cover plate22 and at each of its upper corners has pivotally connected therewithcovers 23 by means of the hinges 24 as shown. A sleeve 25 ex tendsvertically through the casing 21 and slidably receives the extension 5of the upright standard 4, serving as a guide to cause the casing tomove smoothly and evenly on the post and extension thereof: Said sleeveadjacent its lower end to disclose the rack G and permit the engagementofthe pinion 26 therewith, the pinion being pivotally mounted in thecasing and having a square opening 27 adapted to receive the end-of acrank by which'it may be rotated. A crossvshaft 2S connects the pinionsin the two vcasings mounted on the standards 5 whereby the rotation ofone will simultaneously lcause the rotation of the other and insure theeven and simultaneous elevation of both ends of the uppermostgoodsh'old- 'ing member. Inone of said casings, the one at which thecrank is applied to the pinion a dog29 is pivotally mounted whichengages spring 30 which normally tends to hold'the dog in engagementwith said pinion. Also a handle 31 is attached to the dog and extendsthrough a side of the casing by which it may be manually operated to bedisengaged from the pinion. To each cover 23 a strap 32.V is attached bymeans of whichthe cover may be raised as shown in Fig. 2, the ends ofthe straps having detachable engagement with the links 33 which arevpivotally connected to 'the `uppermostl shelf 8. Guy wires 34extend'upwardly from each corner of the base 1 and are connectedwith thering 7 heretofore described, `the said guy wires being adjustable as tolength by means of the interposedadjusting devices 35.

In the collapsed condition ofthe rack as shown in Fig. 3 the extensions5 to posts 4 may be turned inwardly and lie in horif zontal positionabove the goods holding members, the covers 23 may be placed inhorizontal position and the guy wires 34 turned over the upper sides ofthe covers 23 lying adjacent the hooks 36 shown. If it is desired toextend` the rack to display the shoes held thereby, thecovers are turnedupwardly and held in such position'as shown in Fig. 2 and-the extensions5 are turned into vertical positions, the wires 34 being tightened toretain `the extensions in place. By means of a crank lengaging with thepinion 26, said pinion and shaft 28 may be rotated thereby carrying theuppermost goods holding member upwardly. As this occurs the dog 29 slipsby the teethV of the pinion 26 permitting the elevation of theV goodsholding members but normallyA engaging between the teeth to prevent thelowering thereof. Thel uppermost goods holding member may be carried toitsl highest position, the inercibers below by reason of the connectionsbetween them and the upper member being also elevated partially, andpositioned in spaced apart relationalong the length of the standards 4and their extensions 5, and as heretofore pointed out, the articlescarried thereby are automatically placed in display position with theextension of the rack.

Then in such position any of the articles may be conveniently examinedor removed. Then it is desired to'again col/lapse the rack, the crankfor turning` the pinion'26 is again inserted into the opening 27 and thedog 29 is disengaged by means of the handle'31, permitting the backrotation `of the crank to lower the goods holding members and turn Ihave provided a novel means for extending and collapsing the rack andone that is very practical and useful. Various modifications instructure may be resorted to, to eifect the same operation and withoutdeparting from my invention. The disclosure made, while of a practicaland operative embodiment of my invention, is nevertheless to be taken asmerely diagrammatic' and illustrative thereof and not in any sense aslimiting the invention to any precise structure other than is called forby the terms of the pending claims.

I claim:

l. A display rack including a base, standards secured in spaced apartrelation on the base, a pivotally connected extension to each standard,racks formed on the standards and extensions, guy wires connected to theupper end of each extension and to the base, means for adjusting thelength of the guy wires, goods holding members slidably mounted oneabove another on the standards and lying between the standards, flexibleconnections between adjacent goods holding members, a casing at each endof the upper most goods holding member, the standards passing verticallythrough the casings, a sleeve having a portion at its lower end removed,positioned within each casing and receiving the standards, a shaft lyingbetween and extending through the inner sides of the casings, pinionsone at each end of the shaft located in the casings and meshing with thesaid racks, means normally engaging one of the pinions to preventrotation thereof in one direction but permitting rotation in theopposite direction, and means for manually operating said engaging meansto disengage it from the pinion.

2. A display rack including a base, standards connected at the ends ofthe base, a pivotally connected extension to each standard, racks formedon the standards and extensions, means to hold the extensions invertical position, means to render the holding means inoperativepermitting the folding of the extensions toward each other, goodsholding members lying between the standards and mounted for slidablemovement thereon, one above another, flexible connections betweenadjacent goods holding members, a casing at cach end of the uppermostgoods holding member, the standards passing vertically through thecasings, a shaft lying between and extending through the inner sides ofthe casings, pinions one at each end of the shaft located in the casingsand engaging with the racks, and means to control the rotary movement ofone of the pinions to hold it against reverse movement when turned inone direction of its movement.

3. A display rack including spaced apart standards, a pivotallyconnected extension to each standard, said standards and extensionsbeing formed with racks on one side thereof and said extensions beingadapted to turn toward each other between the standards, goods holdingmembers slidably mounted on and between the standards, said membersbeing positioned one above the other and adapted to rest one on theother, connections between the goods holding members, casings forming apart of the upper goods holding member and sliding on the standards,pinions in the casings, racks formed on the standards with which saidpinions mesh, means whereby the said pinions may be simultaneouslyrotated to thereby elevate the upper goods holding member, and means tosecure the extensions in upright position, substantially as described.

l. A display rack including spaced apart standards, goods holdingmembers slidably mounted on and between the standards, said membersbeing positioned one above the other and adapted to rest one on theother, connections between the goods holding members, casings forming apart of the upper goods holding member, sleeves within the casingshaving a portion at their lower ends removed loosely receiving thestandards, a rack formed on each standard, a pinion in each casing, ashaft connecting the pinions and means whereby a pinion may be rotated,thereby simultaneously elevating both ends of the upper goods holdingmember along the standards.

5. A display rack including spaced apart standards, goods holdingmembers slidably mounted on and between the standards, one above theother and adapted to rest one on the other, connections between the saidmembers causing the members to be positioned in spaced apart relation asthe upper member is elevated along the standards, casings forming a partof the upper member sliding on the standards, a rack formed on eachstandard, a pinion in each casing engaging with the rack, a shaftconnecting the pinions, a dog engaging with each pinion and a handleconnected to each dog and projecting through the wall of its associatedcasing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS G. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. LIvEnANoE, J r. HOWARD H. YARRINGTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

